code: def _categories(self, definition: VariableDefinition) -> list[str]:
      try:
          categories = definition["categories"]
      except KeyError:
          raise ValueError('No "categories" defined')
  
      return categories
  
file_path: dedupe/dedupe/variables/categorical_type.py
imports: from __future__ import annotations
  from categorical import CategoricalComparator
  from dedupe import predicates
  from dedupe._typing import PredicateFunction, VariableDefinition
  from dedupe.variables.base import DerivedType, FieldType
label_desc: Use image node_id 1 for calling the CategoricalType obj's underlying member method code with example usage: obj._categories(definition) and returns: categories